Heat activated filter for smoking devices

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a filter for smoking devices wherein the heat caused by combustion of the tobacco products causes the release of encapsulated fluid and the consequent moistening of the filtering material disposed within the device. The fluid is retained in capsules the walls of which are constituted of waxlike material which is melted when the heat of the smoke is concentrated in &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;jet&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; form thereon by a truncated conical baffle the smaller end of which is in proximity to the capsules and the larger end is close to the tobacco charge.

United States Patent Mortimer Russell Dock New York, N.Y.

Oct. 16, 1969 Dec. 7, 1971 The 11-2-0 Filter Corporation New York, N.Y.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee HEAT ACTIVATED FILTER FORSMOKING DEVICES 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 131/262, 131/ 10.1 Int. Cl. ..A24d 01/06, A241 13/06FieldolSeareh l31/l0.1,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,103,221 9/1963 Harris131/10.s 3,366,121 H1968 Carty.... 131/1o.1 3,388,707 6/1968 Harris 1311107 X 3,428,049 2/1969 Leake et a1. 13 1/10.| FOREIGN PATENTS 188,5723/1964 Sweden 131/10.1

Primary Examiner-Melvin D. Rein ABSTRACT: This invention relates to afilter for smoking devices wherein the heat caused by combustion of thetobacco products causes the release of encapsulated fluid and theconsequent moistening of the filtering material disposed within thedevice. The fluid is retained in capsules the walls of which areconstituted of waxlike material which is melted when the heat of thesmoke is concentrated in jet form thereon by a truncated conical bafflethe smaller end of which is in proximity to the capsules and the largerend is close to the tobacco charge.

PATENTEUDEB nan R K mC mm v 1 .R R E M T R 0 M jWmz ATTORNEY HEATACTIVATED FILTER FOR SMOKING DEVICES The present invention has for itspurpose the release of encapsulated fluid in a filter device for smokingproducts, wherein such release is effected by the heat of the smokereacting upon the fluid container member, without any action by thesmoker other than inhalation as the tobacco in the smoking device isignited and the smoke drawn therethrough.

The reason for the present concept is the reluctance of some smokers toeffect the release of encapsulated fluid by squeezing or pressure orother manual exercise, whereas the advantage of greater smoking pleasureresults from the smoke being moistened and cooled as it travels througha wet filter.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts in allfigures and in which FIG. I is a perspective view of a filter for asmoking device;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 shows the view of FIG. 2 after the tobacco has been ignited andthe smoke has been drawn through the tobacco and into the filter.

With more particular reference to the drawings, it will be seen that inFIG. 11, filter comprises housing 11, and battle member 16 and cigarette17 are shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 2 shows plug member 12 and capsules 13 having a fluid content 14,and absorbent, expansible material 15 disposed within the space betweenplug member I2 and buffer member 16.

In FIG. 3, the absorbent, expansible material 15 is shown expanded bythe fluid released from the capsules 13 upon the destruction or partialdestruction thereof by the smoke drawn through the filter from theburning tobacco.

The buffer member 116 is of a truncated conical configuration, havingthe major opening at the outer end of the housing and the minor diametertoward the interior of the housing. Thus, the smoke is readily drawninto the filter and as it travels through the buffer member it becomesconcentrated by the narrowing of the channel until, as it reaches theend having the minor diameter, it has the effect of a jet of warm smokedirected upon the walls of the capsules. Said capsules, being made of awaxlike material or other substance readily collapsible upon theapplication of heat, are thereupon melted or otherwise partiallydestroyed, and release their fluid content, which is preferably, but notnecessarily, an aqueous solution. Examples of other solutions in filtercontaining capsules may be found in US. Pat. Nos. 3,339,557 and3,540,456. The small bore at the interior end of the buffer member,together with the continuing inhalation by the smoker, prevents theleakage of fluid back through the buffer member into the tobacco, andsaid fluid therefore enters the absorbent material, causing saidmaterial to expand and fill the interior of the housing, including thatspace previously occupied by the now partially collapsed capsules.

Such moistened, expanded material then entraps at least a portion of thecombustion products released by the burning tobacco, and reduces thetemperature of the smoke as it travels therethrough toward the mouth ofthe smoker. The plug at the mouth end of the device prevents theabsorbent material from escaping and allows no part thereof to reach thesmokers mouth.

I claim:

ll. In a cigarette filter or the like, a substantially cylindricalhousing having a blocking plug of permeable material disposed at themouth end thereof, a charge of absorbent material immediately upstreamtherefrom said material being characterized by being expansible whenwetted, at least one fluid filled capsule having heat destructible wallsdisposed within said absorbent material mass and a baffle member of adiameter at one end equal to that of the housing at 'the upstream endthereof and being placed in proximity to the charge of smokable tobacco,the downstream end of the baffle being narrowed so as to form a jet"ofthe warm smoke which is directed at the capsules to effect melting ofthe walls thereof during smoking.

2. The filter of claim 1 wherein the baffle is in the shape of atruncated cone. I

As regards the temperature of the etstream, the applicant pointed out inthe interview, that an effective temperature for melting the capsuleswalls will be arrived at, if not immediately on lighting the cigarette,then subsequently thereto and when the burning coal approximates thefilter charge.

2. The filter of claim 1 wherein the baffle is in the shape of atruncated cone. As regards the temperature of the jetstream, theapplicant pointed out in the interview, that an effective temperaturefor melting the capsules walls will be arrived at, if not immediately onlighting the cigarette, then subsequently thereto and when the burningcoal approximates the filter charge.